Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court on Friday, February 27, 2026, ordered the remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and their son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, in correctional facilities pending the determination of their bail applications.
The court directed that Malami and his son, the first and third defendants, be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, while Asabe, the second defendant, be held at the Suleja Medium Correctional Centre.
The defendants were re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission following the reassignment of the case from Justice Emeka Nwite to Justice Abdulmalik.
They are standing trial on an amended 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to ₦8,713,923,759.49, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
At the commencement of proceedings, prosecution counsel, Chief J.S. Okutepa, SAN, informed the court that the matter was appearing before Justice Abdulmalik for the first time and sought leave to read the amended charge to the defendants. He explained that corrections were made to Counts 11 and 12 to align the numerical figures with the amounts stated in words.
Defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, raised no objection but urged the prosecution to make a formal application. Justice Abdulmalik granted the request and approved the amendment.
Count one alleges that Malami and his son, between July 2022 and June 2025 in Abuja, procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of ₦1,014,848,500 lodged in a Sterling Bank Plc account. Count five accuses the three defendants of conspiring in September 2024 to disguise the unlawful origin of ₦1,049,173,926.13 paid through a Union Bank Plc account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, Jabi. Count six alleges that Malami and his son indirectly took control of ₦1,362,887,872.96 between November 2022 and October 2025, knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all 16 counts.
Following the plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and the remand of the defendants. The defence, however, argued that the defendants were already on bail granted by Justice Nwite and that all conditions had been perfected, urging the court to allow the existing bail to continue.
While acknowledging that bail had earlier been granted, the prosecution submitted that the court had discretion to either adopt the previous terms or impose fresh conditions.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik held that the earlier bail was terminated by the reassignment of the case and directed the defendants to file fresh bail applications. An oral bail application by the defence was rejected, with the court insisting on a formal application in view of the gravity of the allegations.
The judge also ordered the prosecution to grant the defence access to the defendants to prepare for trial and adjourned the matter to March 6, 2026, for the hearing of bail applications and commencement of trial.
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